Québec, August 31, 2007 – The commission of the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) will be holding the second part of the public hearing on the Projet demine de fer du lac Bloom by Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited, starting on September 25, 2007

The agenda of this second part of the public hearing is as following :

From September 25, 2007
7 :00 p.m

Musée Shaputuan
290, boulevard des Montagnais
Sept-Îles

From September 26, 2007
7 :00 p.m

Hôtel-motel Royal
182, rue des Montagnais Schefferville

From September 27, 2007
7 :00 p.m

SAAN's Local
299, rue Le Carrefour
Fermont

This part of the public hearing will be devoted to hearing the briefs and verbal opinions of individuals, municipalities, organizations and groups wishing to express their opinion to the commission.

WRITING A BRIEF

A brief is a document that presents opinions or concerns on a specific subject. It allows the author to develop and state the arguments in support of this opinion.

As a general rule, a brief contains the following elements: a short presentation of the individual, the group, the organization or the municipality tabling the brief, a brief explanation of the interest that the author has in the project, opinions on the project as a whole, concerns related to the project and, as the case may be, any suggestions and comments likely to improve it. Those individuals who do not wish to write a brief can express their opinion verbally at the public hearing. A verbal presentation may be developed in the same way as a brief.

Advice is provided, for reference purposes only, in the form of questions in the document entitled Writing a Brief. This document is available upon request, as well as in electronic format on the BAPE website at www.bape.gouv.qc.ca, under the heading “Comment participer” of this mandate.

PRESENTING A BRIEF

To ensure the smooth planning of the unfolding of the public sessions of the hearing, every person who wishes to present a brief or express opinions verbally is asked to inform Ms. Anne-Lyne Boutin , commission secretariat coordinator, wherever possible, two weeks before the second part of the hearing, namely not later than September 11, 2007, by calling toll-free 1 800 463-4732 extension 420 or 418 643-7447, or by e-mail at lacbloom@bape.gouv.qc.ca.

To allow the commission to read the brief prior to the public session, the document in question, clearly identified with the project, must be sent, not later than September 21, 2007 , to the secretary of the BAPE,at 575, rue Saint-Amable, bureau 2.10, Québec (Québec) G1R 6A6, to the attention of Ms. Anne-Lyne Boutin . Other delays could be offered to the First Nations’ members taking into account the modalities of their participation to the public hearing.

Persons wishing to submit their brief by e-mail can address it to lacbloom @bape.gouv.qc.ca. An original copy will have to follow by mail. Briefs will be disseminated on the BAPE website under the heading “Consult the documentation” identified with the project, as soon as they have been made public by the commission .

WHERE CAN THE PROJECT DOCUMENTATION BE CONSULTED?

You can consult the documents pertaining to the project as well as the transcriptions of the sessions of the first part of the hearing at the office of the BAPE in Québec City, at Bibliothèque centrale de l’Université du Québec à Montréal as well as at the following locations:

bibliothèque municipale de Fermont, 130, rue Le Carrefour ;

bibliothèque Louis-Ange-Santerre, 500, avenue Jolliet, Sept-Îles ;

musée Shaputuan, 290, boulevard des Montagnais, Sept-Îles ;

radio CKAU, 100, rue Montagnais, Maliotenam ;

bureau de la Nation Naskapi, Kawawachikamach.

You can also consult the BAPE website to learn more about the project at the following address: www.bape.gouv.qc.ca.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS ESSENTIAL!

Public participation is essential for the commission. It allows the commission to hear the arguments, opinions and suggestions of participants before drafting the report that will be submitted to Ms. Line Beauchamp, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, not later than December 20, 2007 .

Those persons who wish to obtain more information can get in touch with Ms. Anne-Lyne Boutin, commission secretariat coordinator at toll-free 1 800 463-4732 extension 420 or 418 643-7447, or by e-mail at the following address: lacbloom@ bape.gouv.qc.ca.